Example unit graphics from our mod

[DominionsFan]

Nerfix said:

Easy, they all break the laws. 10, 000 16 yo finns getting drunk every weekend doesn't make use of alcohol by minors ay more legal, neither does 50, 000 Limewire users make warez any more legal.

Well I really wonder what will be the official answer from Wizards of the Coast. I will copy here everything what will be in the mail. They will reply within 2 days if true.
Maybe I was wrong, since most of you are saying that it's against the copyright laws.
If that is true, we will photoshop the in-game units, instead of using miniatures.

[DominionsFan]

Fantastic I just got their reply.

"Questions in regards to legal use need to be directed to our legal department. The only way to reach the legal department is to send in a physical letter to our legal department."

[Gandalf Parker]

Oh great. Like it will do any good to try and have the conversation with a completely non-tech legal department. That kills most of the arguments you might give.

[BigJMoney]

Haha. They might be non-tech, but they are the legal department for the world's #1 role-playing and hobby gaming franchise. If anyone knows anything about this, you can bet they do. Also, I'd like to point out that Leif's information is not his subjective opinion. He is giving you helpful information, DF. It's not what you wish to hear, but it's helpful.

This reminds me of the story of a man who asked his father how to get rich when he was a young boy. His father told him he needed to discover a way how to "make money". He and his best friend thought for some time and then they became excited when they came up with their very own idea. They went around the neighborhood, collecting the used toothpaste containers from their neighbors. They told their neighbors they were starting a business project, and they'd like some help. Their neighbors were encouraging to the boys, so they assisted them. Eventually, the boys rounded up enough empty toothpaste tubes to begin execution of their money making plan. It turns out their plan was to melt down the nickel tubes and mold them into coins. They had literally discovered a way to "make money". Needless to say, their father had to tell them it was illegal. My point is, whether something is illegal or not is not someone's opinion. Maybe Leif is incorrect, but he is not stating an opinion. He is stating the law.

=$= Big J Money =$=

PS -- He is not incorrect. However, if you feel that what you are doing is not immoral you could probably go ahead and do it, and I seriously doubt you would ever incur legal action. Even if you did, the worst that would happen is Wizards would contact you and threaten a lawsuit if you do not remove your mod from development/distribution. This would be a "better to ask forgiveness than permission" situation. That decision is yours to make. I personally don't reccomend making breaking the law a habit.

[DominionsFan]

BigJMoney said:
Haha. They might be non-tech, but they are the legal department for the world's #1 role-playing and hobby gaming franchise. If anyone knows anything about this, you can bet they do. Also, I'd like to point out that Leif's information is not his subjective opinion. He is giving you helpful information, DF. It's not what you wish to hear, but it's helpful.

This reminds me of the story of a man who asked his father how to get rich when he was a young boy. His father told him he needed to discover a way how to "make money". He and his best friend thought for some time and then they became excited when they came up with their very own idea. They went around the neighborhood, collecting the used toothpaste containers from their neighbors. They told their neighbors they were starting a business project, and they'd like some help. Their neighbors were encouraging to the boys, so they assisted them. Eventually, the boys rounded up enough empty toothpaste tubes to begin execution of their money making plan. It turns out their plan was to melt down the nickel tubes and mold them into coins. They had literally discovered a way to "make money". Needless to say, their father had to tell them it was illegal. My point is, whether something is illegal or not is not someone's opinion. Maybe Leif is incorrect, but he is not stating an opinion. He is stating the law.

=$= Big J Money =$=

PS -- He is not incorrect. However, if you feel that what you are doing is not immoral you could probably go ahead and do it, and I seriously doubt you would ever incur legal action. Even if you did, the worst that would happen is Wizards would contact you and threaten a lawsuit if you do not remove your mod from development/distribution. This would be a "better to ask forgiveness than permission" situation. That decision is yours to make. I personally don't reccomend making breaking the law a habit.

Yep. I will use photoshopped miniatures. If Wizards never cared about it in the past, they won't care now at all.
People are using the miniature images for years now in the various game modifications. ...and not in games with a small fanbase, but in games with a huge fanbase, like the civilization series.

[Morkilus]

Oh noes! WotC owns my avatar now that they bought D&D! I'm ruined!

I won't tell on ya, DFan. *encouragement*

[Frostmourne27]

You might want to consider what JaydedOne said, but sending them a letter might not be a bad idea. Or reading around on their web page. I know nothing about DnD miniatures, but you might make a case that your use is open game lisance (spelling?) if your mod resembles greyhawk type worlds. One the other hand, this is hardly widespread, so they probably wont care, and as BigJMoney pointed out, worst case they probably will do nothing more than send a few insulting letters demanding you stop publishing your mod.

[JaydedOne]

Gandalf Parker said:
Oh great. Like it will do any good to try and have the conversation with a completely non-tech legal department. That kills most of the arguments you might give.

*chuckle* As both a lawyer and a former Wizards of the Coast employee, I can assure you that I highly doubt that their legal department is non-tech.

You might want to think a little more deeply about why it is that a legal department might request a *physical letter* before opening discussions about the legality of a proposed action.